Notes: Webb says shoulder feeling better

by Nick Piecoro - Apr. 17, 2009 09:34 PMThe Arizona Republic

SAN FRANCISCO - Brandon Webb won't be returning from the disabled list Wednesday, the first day he is eligible to be activated, but the Diamondbacks ace took a step in the right direction Friday afternoon.

Webb, on the disabled list because of bursitis in his right shoulder, played catch in the outfield at AT&T Park with trainer Ken Crenshaw, throwing from about 75 feet.

"It went good," he said. "It went real good. I'm happy with it."

They threw for about 10 minutes, with manager Bob Melvin and pitching coach Bryan Price watching, but Webb said he needed almost no time to realize how much better he was feeling.

"I was a little apprehensive letting it go right off the bat, but as soon as I started throwing I was like, 'This feels totally different from what it did (before),' " he said.

Webb lasted just four innings in his Opening Day start, complaining of shoulder stiffness.

He underwent an MRI exam that showed swelling in the shoulder.

Webb, though, played catch the day after his start and felt fine, only to have recurring stiffness the next day.

Webb said he is tentatively planning to play catch again Saturday and then throw a "flat ground" - a more intensified session, perhaps with a catcher squatting - Sunday.

Melvin wouldn't say how the club plans to proceed beyond that, though the soonest he could return appears to be late next week.

RJ alert

The big news for Randy Johnson Friday didn't seem to be his upcoming start Sunday, the first against his former team.

It was that he finally got paid on his annual Southern California-California football bet with Diamondbacks left fielder Conor Jackson.

"Not really," he said, when asked if Sunday's start means a little more to him.

"Pitching against the Diamondbacks, at this point right now, I think I need to start pitching some quality games, and it doesn't really matter who it's against. We just need a good-pitched game to relieve some pressure from everybody."

Johnson is 0-2 with an 11.42 ERA. He gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings vs. the Dodgers on Monday.